Another note from the author: Yet again, I feel I must make it known that I do not own any of these characters... Would like to... but that's a different story... See the first chapter if you would like to know who really DOES own them... lucky ducks... Mad Mary Flint P-)
Chapter 2 'Proper Company'
"Do either of you know how to tie ties?" asked James, as the three of them changed into their school robes. He looked at the tie he had knotted incorrectly around his neck. "This doesn't look quite right." He sighed.
"Have either of you seen my left shoe?" asked Remus, brandishing his right one. He sat down in frustration. "I can't find my left shoe. I've looked everywhere."
"Here, James... allow me," said Sirius, unknotting James' tie, and then retying it correctly, and tightening it. "Remus, have you looked under the seats?"
"I've looked five times!" stated Remus, in frustration.
"Look again."
"Too tight! Too tight!" James cried, coughing. He dug his finger behind the knot and loosened it. "Here... let me adjust yours," James reached for Sirius's tie.
"There's nothing under there!" said Remus.
"James!" said Sirius, easily fending off his friend's assault. "It was an accident!"
James laughed, teasingly. "Oh, yeah?" he threw his shoulder into Sirius's side and they both toppled to the floor. They wrestled around, banging into the seats and the door, rattling the compartment. Above them, their trunks slid, bumping into each other, adding more noise to the room.
"Has anyone seen my other shoe...? OW!" shouted Remus, standing up on a seat, trying to get out of Sirius and James' way, and hitting his head on the overhead compartment.
There was a knock on the door. It opened, and a girl with rich dark red hair, and emerald green eyes, stuck her head in.
"What on Earth is going on in here?" she demanded.
James and Sirius stopped wrestling and looked up sheepishly. They both tried to scramble to their feet at the same time. There was a loud ripping noise.
"Oh, great!" said Sirius, sitting back down, and trying to look over his shoulder. "I've put a rip in my sweater."
The red haired girl walked over. "Well..." she said with an air of 'I told you so' She sighed and pulled out her wand. "Let me see. Maybe I can put it right."
Sirius turned to let her see the rip in the sleeve.
"I'm Lily Evans by-the-way," said the girl. "I'm guessing this is the compartment that boy was talking about. The clattering one."
"Oh, you've met Snape too?" said James, sounding disappointed.
"Is that his name? Anyway, no, I haven't really," said Lily, pinching the rip together. "The compartment I'm in is unbearably hot, and the smoke from the train wouldn't stop coming in when we opened the window. I just got back from talking with the driver to see if there was anything that could be done. 'Snape-who-ever-he-was' was already there, complaining about an unruly group of boys that were disturbing the train."
"That's us!" said James.
Lily smiled and muttered something under her breath, while jabbing her wand at the tear. "There, it's mended," she said
"Thanks," said Sirius.
"Just be glad I've read all the course books," said Lily.
Sirius stood up, and held out his hand. "I'm Sirius Back. This is James Potter and Remus Lupin."
"Nice to meet you all," said Lily, shaking Sirius' hand, and nodding to James and Remus. "I think I'd better go get my things together. And by the looks of things..." she glanced around the room, looking at the piles of Muggle clothes strewn everywhere. "You three had better tidy up a bit as well." .
"She has a point," stated Remus, as the brakes of the Hogwarts Express screeched in the distance. They felt the train begin to slow as the train blew its whistle.
"I'll see you around I expect," said Lily, pausing at the compartment door to wave good-bye.
"Bye!" said Sirius watching, Lily leave.
James and Remus looked at each other and grinned.
"What?" said Sirius.
"Nothing," said James and Remus together.
The compartment door opened again, and Lily reentered. "Is anyone missing a shoe? I found this outside the door," she held up Remus' matching shoe.
"That's mine! Thanks," said Remus, taking it from Lily and putting it on.
Lily smiled and nodded, before leaving again.
"Nice girl," said James, elbowing Sirius and winking at Remus.
"Yeah, well..."
"Attention passengers on the Hogwarts Express," said a nasal voice, interrupting Sirius. "We are pulling into the station now. Please leave your luggage on the train. It will be taken up to the castle separately. Thank-you for traveling on the Hogwarts Express."
"Well, we're here then..." said Remus trying to peer out the window, as the train slowed to a stop. "Wonder what's next?"
"Probably getting off the train," said Sirius, laughing.
They clambered out onto the dark platform. Students of all ages called to one another as they climbed off the train and milled about the platform. A cool night breeze blew through the crowd, and several students pulled their robes tighter around themselves to ward off the chill.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" called a loud booming voice.
"Wow! Have a look at that!" exclaimed Sirius, as a giant man stepped out from behind a corner of the train station, carrying a bright lantern, which illuminated him, but not much else. He wore a large brown overcoat covered in millions of pockets of all sizes, and his wild black beard covered most of his face, except for his twinkling beetle-black eyes.
A small round boy backed up into James. "Watch it!" said James.
"It's a giant!" said the boy with a terrified yelp, turning around. He looked very pale underneath his straw colored hair, and his watery gray eyes were wide with fear. "He's going to eat all of us!"
James rolled his eyes. "Don't be stupid. That's Hagrid, I think... My Dad told me about him."
"But, he's a..."
"Look," said James, in a matter-of-fact tone. "My Dad works in the Department of Controlling Magical Creatures. He told me that all giants have been banned from wizarding settlements. He's just an... Overly large man... Besides, Dumbledore wouldn't allow anything at Hogwarts that would be a danger to students."
"Really?" said the boy, looking doubtful. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," said James. "I'm positive."
"We'd better hurry up and get over there. We don't want to be left behind," said Sirius, starting over towards Hagrid. James and the other boy followed.
"James?" said Remus, walking a few paces behind them.
"Yeah?" said James, falling into step with Remus.
"Did you really mean what you just said?"
"About what? Giants being banned?"
"No, about Dumbledore not allowing anything at the school that would be a danger to students," asked Remus in a quite voice, as they neared the other first years.
"Oh, that! Of course I'm sure. My parents are good friends with Dumbledore," He said, as if that explained everything. "Why?"
Remus shook his head. "No reason. Just a thought."
James shrugged. "Let's catch up with Sirius."
"I was wondering where both of you got to," said Sirius as James and Remus join him. Together, they pushed their way through the crowd trying to get to the front.
"Firs' years, over here!" called Hagrid over the murmur of voices.
"Where'd that boy go?" asked Sirius, looking over the heads of James and Remus, as the first year students gathered around Hagrid. He spotted Lily, but not the small boy.
"Who?" asked James.
Sirius indicated the small boy that had been afraid of Hagrid.
"Oh, him... dunno, he must've gotten lost in the crowd as we went to join Hagrid," said James, shrugging.
"Ah, there you are Sirius," said a cool silky voice, from behind the group.
Together, James, Sirius and Remus turned to see a tall, slender girl, with golden hair, that rested above her shoulders in lush curls. She had a short, narrow, turned up nose, and pale skin.
"Hello Narcissa," said Sirius coldly.
"I was wondering where you had gotten to, cousin," began Narcissa. "Severus informed me that he had seen you on the train... Being quite loud, I must say... Oh, but we mustn't forget our manners... Aren't you gong to introduce me to your..." she smiled forcibly. "Friends?"
"I'm James and this is Remus," said James, eyeing Sirius' cousin apprehensively.
"Ah, you mean James Potter," said Narcissa, laughing quietly.
"So?"
She shook her head loftily, her golden curls bobbing back and forth. "It doesn't matter right now... So is this the company you've chosen?" asked Narcissa, appraising James and Remus from head to toe. "I must say, you mother will not be pleased."
Sirius stepped forward. "My mother isn't going to find out."
Narcissa looked at Sirius, her eyebrows raised. "She's not? Oh, I would think she would be most disappointed if no one informed her of what her eldest son is up to," she answered, unruffled. "Not to mention what dear Bellatrix would think..." she added with a saintly air.
"I don't care what Bellatrix thinks! She can shrivel up and die, for all I care! And what I tell my mother is my business! You and Bellatrix will kindly keep out of my business," said Sirius, sternly, raising his voice slightly.
"Temper, temper..." said Narcissa, clicking her tongue. "But, very well. I shall refrain from doing my family duty... for a time."
"Good," said Sirius, curtly cutting her off, and with that, he spun around and led James and Remus up to the front, near Hagrid.
"We'll have to watch out for her," said Remus.
"Yeah. Sirius, when you said your family was obsessed with 'certain company' I think you forgot to stress 'obsessed'," said James.
"Sorry, I most have forgot," said Sirius, fuming.
"This way!" called Hagrid, leading them off past the other students who were also beginning to disperse from the platform.
"We're we going?" asked Remus.
Hagrid heard his question. "Ah, you'll be young Remus Lupin!"
Remus nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Dumbledore will be wanting to see you after the ceremony... remember that!" said Hagrid. "Mind yer step!' he called to the other students.
James, Remus, Sirius, and the other first years followed Hagrid down a dim gravel path through a dark wood. Trying their best not to slip, they followed Hagrid's lamp, which was the only source of light.
"This must be the thickest forest I've ever been in," said Sirius, looking around. "You can't even see the stars! The trees block out everything!"
Remus swallowed, and wiped his clammy hands on his robe. "I hope we get out soon. I don't like the looks of this forest."
"You'll see Hogwarts for the firs' time jus' past this bend," called Hagrid.
Rounding the corner there were awed gasps, quite a few loud 'Oooooh!'s, and some nervous titters from the girls.
The path stopped at the shore of an inky-black lake. A fleet of boats waited for them on the shore, bobbing on the waves, a lantern attached to each bow. Across the lake an enormous castle rested on top of a craggy mountain. Its numerous towers and turrets seemed to pierce through the sky. From this distance the many lighted windows seemed to blend in with the starry night.
"Four to a boat, please!" said Hagrid.
The first years jostled each other as they all tried to clamber into the boats at once.
"Watch it!" called Hagrid, as three people lost their balance on the gravel and fell. There was a splash and a shriek as someone took a step into the water. "There's no hurry! Keep yer heads on!"
James Remus, and Sirius, after five more minutes of being shoved about, finally managed to climb into the last boat.
"Looks like it's just us three," said Sirius. "Must be an odd number of students this year!"
"Good! I was afraid we'd have to share a boat with Snape," said James, as he, Sirius, and Remus, rocked the boat with their gales of laughter.
Past Sirius's shoulder Remus could see Snape glaring daggers in their direction. Next to him sat a handsome pale boy with silver blonde hair.
"Everyone settled? Right... FORWARD!" shouted Hagrid.
The boats wobbly dislodged themselves from the shore and set off towards the castle.
"I wonder what kinds of fish live in this lake," said Sirius, leaning over the side, looking into the dark water, making their boat tip precariously to one side. "It would be fun to catch one... I've never been fishing before."
"I've seen pictures of Muggles fishing..." said James.
"Sirius!" asked Remus, pulling him back by his robes. "You're tipping the boat! Do you want to fall in the water?"
"No," replied Sirius, sulkily, crossing his arms.
Something scraped against the bottom of their boat, rocking it slightly.
"What was that?" asked Remus.
"The bottom of the lake?" suggested James.
"It'd never be shallow enough to scrape bottom in the middle of a lake this size," said Sirius, glancing over the side of the boat. He gasped, and grabbed James' sleeve. "Look! There's something in the lake. I saw it!"
"Maybe it's a giant fish!" said James, as he slid over to Sirius's side, and they both peered into the water.
"Hey!" said Remus, as the boat rose slightly out of the water from the added wait of James on the opposite side. It was hard to keep his balance.
"There it is!" shouted James standing up, pointing. "An arm! Fishes don't have arms..."
"Oy! You three! Watch..."
But before Hagrid could finish his warning, the boat containing James, Remus, and Sirius flipped, its lantern going out with a hiss. Sirius, feeling the boat tip, was able to jump a good distance away before it completely capsized.
"HALT!" shouted Hagrid, causing all the boats to stop. "Alrigh' everyone?" nervous murmurs echoed across the water from the other boats.
"James? Where are you?" shouted Sirius, dog-paddling closer to the boat.
There was no reply.
"Alrigh'! Jus' stay calm! I'm comin'!" shouted Hagrid taking off his coat, bringing his boat closer, so that his lantern could sweep the water. "I only count two of yeh!"
"James!" hollered Sirius louder, frantically swimming towards the boat, splashing cold water everywhere.
There was a cough. "Sirius? I'm over here!" came James' voice.
As Sirius came closer he could make out James keeping his broken glasses to his face with one hand, holding onto the upside-down boat with the other, and trying to tread water at the same time.
"Remus!" yelled James splashing about in the water.
"Remus! Where'd he go? Did he fall over the other side? Remus!" coughed Sirius, swallowing water, as a wave from Hagrid's boat washed over him.
James shouted. "Something touched me!"
Sirius yelled. "It's that thing we saw in the lake! It's going to pull us under!"
Panicking, Sirius and James splashed about the water even more, getting it into their eyes. They yelled for Remus between gulps of water, and accidentally kicked each other's legs in the process of trying to stay above water.
"There's nothin' near the surface that would harm yeh!" shouted Hagrid as he jumped into the lake, creating another big wave, which caught James this time. There was a thud from under the boat.
"Sirius! I felt something! From under the boat!" shouted James. "You don't think...?"
Sirius and James caught each other's eye in the dim light of Hagrid's lamp.
"Wait! Jus' a min..." said Hagrid swimming over, but Sirius didn't stay for the rest. He quickly took a deep breath and dove underwater.
Staying near the surface, Sirius felt for the rim of the boat, grabbed it, and slid underneath. Coming up under the boat, he was surprised to discover, was a chamber of air. Gasping in the pitch blackness, Sirius raised himself too high out of the water, and accidentally knocked his head on the top of the boat. Shouting out in surprise, he went back under. Forcing away panic, Sirius slowly came up again underneath the boat.
"Remus?" asked Sirius, coughing and sputtering.
"I'm here!" came Remus' shaky voice.
"Are you hurt?"
"No..."
"Come on! Hold your breath and dive under with me!" said Sirius, taking a deep breath.
"Sirius?"
"What?" said Sirius, exhaling.
"Never mind," whispered Remus.
Sirius cleared his throat, laughing shakily. "It'll be okay! It's just... water."
There was a thump on the roof of the boat, and Remus could hear muffled shouting.
"HE'S HERE! IT'S ALRIGHT!" shouted Sirius at the top of his lungs.
"Let's hurry up and go," said Remus, thinking he sounded braver then he felt.
"When I count three, take a deep breath and we'll swim underneath the boat and come up to the surface. Ready?"
"Yes."
"One... Two... Three..." they said together.
Ducking underwater, Sirius did his best to guide Remus under the rim of he boat. Sooner then he expected, they burst into the open air, swallowing water in their surprise.
"Here! I've got him! He's alright!" shouted Sirius.
Hagrid swam over. "You three, into that boat over there." Hagrid pointed to the boat he just left. "I'll stay with this one 'ere."
The three of them swam over to the vacated boat, Sirius reaching it first. He vaulted in, and still dripping wet, helped haul Remus in, and both of them helped James in, who was still holding his broken glasses. They sat there, dripping puddles of water into the boat.
"We'd better ring out our clothes over the side, or we'll fill up the boat." said Sirius, jokingly, as he rung his sleeve. Remus and James laughed with relief, and began to ring out their clothes as best they could.
"All set you three?" asked Hagrid, who had somehow managed to right the capsized boat.
"Yes," James, Sirius, and Remus answered.
"No, wait!" said James.
"What?" said Hagrid, alarmed.
"Never mind. We can go," answered James, laughing quietly to himself.
Hagrid furrowed his brow, and sighed. "Well then, FORWARD!" As the boats lurched onward towards the castle for a second time.
That's all for now folks!
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